Quantum 2626 Crashes (boot only) with Windows 11 24H2 (Build 26100.4061) - Earlier versions of Win11 are fine

[Number6]

Hi there

Not really looking for troubleshooting advise, I've done pretty much all I can do at my end, and I'm in contact with support. I'm looking to see if others experience the same issue (maybe they resolved it?) running 24H2 (OS Build 26100.4061) and later.

If you comment here can you please press the Windows key, type Winver, press enter, write your full Windows version and build, and state what Thunderbolt interface you are using. Also go into device manager and confirm you are running Quantum driver version 1.37.0.0. Thx!

No real point in commenting if you are running an earlier version of Windows 11 or running Windows 10 (yup it will work fine). Much appreciated!

OK THE ISSUE....

I kept getting blue screens updating from an older version of Windows 11 to Windows 11 24H2 and it kept rolling back.
In the end I turned off everything except the mouse and keyboard and upgraded successfully.


I found out the root cause of the issue is pae_quantum.sys (1.37.0.0) crashing, creating a BSOD upon bootup which is of course my Quantum 2626 interface driver. It is noticeable I have never had this until I upgraded to 24H2. Here is the minidump via BlueScreenView utility.

And now the inevitable steps to repro...

a) First way to repro my crash.
Turn off/unplug everything except keyboard, mouse.
Turn on the computer on for the first time and the Quantum for the first time, start Windows, it will not crash.
Restart Windows, it will then crash upon bootup.

b) Second way to repro my crash.
Turn off/unplug everything except keyboard, mouse.
Turn on the computer on for the first time and the Quantum for the first time, start Windows, it will not crash.
Shutdown computer, keep Quantum on.
Start Windows, it will then crash upon bootup (BSOD).

c) Third way to repro my crash.
Turn off/unplug everything except keyboard, mouse.
Turn on the computer on for the first time and the Quantum for the first time, start Windows, it will not crash.
Restart Windows, keep Quantum on, it will then crash upon bootup (BSOD).
Computer will cycle again for a restart, it will then crash upon bootup (BSOD)
Computer will cycle again for a restart,, turn interface off when BIOS screen is displayed.
Computer will start as normal.

I think it's pretty apparent it's a driver compatibility issue with Windows 11 24H2 at least from OS Build 26100.4061 (and maybe my Thunderbolt interface but it seems unlikely as it worked fine before updating Windows 11), as I haven't had this issue before with previous Windows 11 versions. It's obvious that the interface is left in a state upon shutdown which is incompatible when it starts up. If BTW I remove the Quantum drivers and Universal Control via I no longer experience the crash.

Windows/BIOS/firmware/drivers is fully up to date everywhere (inc Universal Control).

I have a Quantum 2626 plugged directly into a Gigabyte Designare Z390 motherboard.
Thunderbolt driver is "Thunderbolt controller - 15EB" version 1.41.1379.0
More info in my signature.

BTW just to reiterate, if you have an earlier build of Windows (check via Winver) you will likely not experience this issue, so there isn't much point in commenting in this scenario unless you have exactly the same problem, yes it will (almost certainly) work for you.

Much appreciated!

 

[Number6]

Hurray! After several days of trying to fix this I've found the solution .

I ran "Thunderbolt Control Center" and noticed the 2626 was plugged into Port 2, nothing was plugged into Port 1 so I plugged it into Port 1, and now NO MORE BSODS when restarting ! Darn should have thought of it earlier.

There is still a bug though with the driver (or maybe Windows 11 24H2) under the following conditions:
Running Windows 11 24H2 (OS build 26100.4061 or later, earlier 24H2 builds may be effected but cannot confirm).
Plugged into a different port other than port 1 (confirmed crash with port 2).
Restarting the device (as per steps outlined earlier).

But at least the workaround is a good one.

 

[B17]

Great Number6.

I struggled with my 2626 after installing Win11.
It often failed on startup and lost connection.
I ended up with a TB driver 1.41.890.0 and have not have problem since, aside from
bluescreen on restart...

I now switched from port 2 to port 1 and it restarts as it should.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Number6]

Great Number6.

I struggled with my 2626 after installing Win11.
It often failed on startup and lost connection.
I ended up with a TB driver 1.41.890.0 and have not have problem since, aside from
bluescreen on restart...

I now switched from port 2 to port 1 and it restarts as it should.

Thanks for sharing!

Ah so you have the same motherboard.
That looks like a later Thunderbolt driver than I've got.
The only place I could find a later driver was via the Dell website. (Not gigabyte or Intel).

Would you mind providing me a link for your driver (or better still the latest you've found).

Thx.

 

[B17]

Shure.
It was some time since I downloaded it but I found it on Gigabyte.
HERE is the download link and HERE the support page from Gigabyte offering it.

Edit:
I see it's not displayed when you select the WIN11 OS on the support page. You must choose Win10 or ALL.

 

[Number6]

Weird I must have been looking at another Gigabyte page for the Designate Z390.
Maybe because I'm looking at one of their international pages
I'll check it out next week, many thanks!

 

[Number6]

Looks like my knickers were in a twist.

I'm running 1.41.1379.0 which is a much later driver.

If you are interested (at your own risk or I doubt there will be any) in downloading here it is from Dells website ((yes I know this is a Gigabyte motherboard):
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-uk/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=tbb11

Extract it first to a folder with WinZIP of WinRAR or something (I didn't run the executable, don't want Dell bloatware) and then point via device manger -> right click the 15EB thunderbolt -> driver tab -> update driver -> Browse for drivers on your computer. Tick "include subfolders" and browse the folder. The rest it obvious.

It should work but (disclaimer) make sure you backup first.

Oh and BTW (I think) you can get later drivers via:

Intel® Driver & Support Assistant

The Intel® Driver & Support Assistant helps keeps your system up-to-date by detecting when updates are available.

www.intel.com

But it won't be as recent as this Dell one.
And I'm assuming you will be running the latest motherboard BIOS from Gigabyte before you do this.

 

[B17]

Thanks for informing.
I just stick with the driver I've got - everything working great. I will find your link here if needed in the future.
Thnx.

 

[Number6]

Cool.

I'm curious if Anybody here has a thunderbolt audio interface and can plug it into port 2 (not port 1) keeping other ports empty and reboot. Must be running Windows 11 24H2.

If so please state your hardware and full windows version.

Presonus won't test other configs and just points to Gigabyte even though it was running under previous Windows version of Windows 11 (the thunderbolt driver was actually made by Intel and the audio interface driver was made by Presonus). There is no smoking gun here on what's to blame, but it ain't hardware imho.

I can repro it with another audio interface but I want to see if it's repro'd with different Thunderbolt interfaces.